As the cruise industry continues to grow, the top luxury lines in the market are keeping up with the demands of their public and adding more, and of course even better ships to their fleet. As 2023 comes to an end we are excited about what the future holds, hence why we have selected the top new cruise ships coming in 2024 – so you can get excited too!
Join us as we take a look at the lavish interiors, exclusive innovations, and exciting itineraries these new vessels have to offer.
Explora Journeys Explora II
After a successful launch in 2023, Explora Journeys is ready to welcome its new cruise ship in 2024, the Explora II. Fitting 922 passengers distributed amongst 461 Ocean-front suites, the Explora II presents 9 different ultra-luxury culinary experiences, along with 3 outdoor pools and 1 indoor.
The onboard experience at each of the Ocean Suites has been designed with refined elegance in mind, presenting floor-to-ceiling windows and private sun terraces to bring guests closer to the ocean. The iconic Owner’s Residence is the largest living space on board, with a private outdoor terrace that extends over the full ship’s width and an infinity whirlpool. Dedicated butler services and a dining table for 8 guests guarantee indulgence all the way through.
As a proper all-inclusive luxury cruise experience, culinary delights onboard are guaranteed, with 5-star dining experiences designed with a well-traveled, sophisticated perspective. Enjoy an immersive dining experience curated by experts and created with rare ingredients, hand-selected by some of the world’s most celebrated guest chefs. Each menu is accompanied by boutique wine labels and exclusive selections crafted by the expert sommeliers onboard.
Make your reservations ahead of time and enjoy the finest Pan-Asian cuisine at Sakura, a redefined steakhouse experience at the Marble & Co. Grill, or take on a private dining and culinary class at the Chef’s Kitchen.
Entertainment is guaranteed with ten bars and lounges, a curated shopping area, and a large indoor and outdoor spa area. Fourteen decks onboard provide ample indoor public space, with stunning views of the sea.
Catching on the current industry trends of aiming at more sustainable voyages, Explora II includes reduced underwater noise to protect marine life and hybrid-ready energy solutions.
Silversea Silver Ray
Silversea’s second Nova Class ship is one of the most luxurious new cruise ships coming in 2024. Mirroring every aspect of its sister ship, Silver Nova, the Silver Ray incorporates asymmetrical design features and the use of glass in both suites and public areas, guaranteeing stunning views everywhere you go onboard.
Boasting itself as one of the most spacious ships ever built, the Silver Ray indeed offers an exceptionally high space-to-guest ratio, with a brand new selection of spacious suites – some of them even offering a 270° view from sea to sky.
With suites coming up to 1,324 square feet, featuring whirlpools, a private balcony, and incredible views, you can be sure the experience onboard exceeds 5-star treatment.
A revamped pool deck onboard puts sea views front and central, while many of the brand’s favorite restaurants will be available to delight even the most discerning of palates. Make sure to experience the S.A.L.T. Lab’s incredible 14-course tasting menu, and count on your butler service to make you feel truly pampered.
Debuting in July 2024, the Silver Ray will cover the Mediterranean, with a variety of sailings from Lisbon, Barcelona, Rome, Venice, and Athens, before taking a transatlantic journey down to South America, where guests of the spectacular 72-day Grand Voyage sailing round trip from Fort Lauderdale will be delighted with the brand’s carefully curated journeys.
The Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection’s Ilma
The newest ship in the luxury cruise brand Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection, Ilma, is meant to set sail this 2024 along the Mediterranean, with up to 456 passengers onboard.
Meaning “water” in Maltese, Ilma is meant to pay homage to the sea with its airy, light-filled suites, open-air terraces, and aft Marina right on the water. Boasting one of the highest space-per-guest ratios at sea, Ilma comes with 224 suites, all of them featuring private terraces. Two new upper suite categories measuring more than 1,000 square feet are meant to take luxury yachting to the next level, as guests relax in an atmosphere of casual elegance onboard.
Presenting five different restaurants, six bars and a wine vault, Ilma’s culinary experiences are designed to please every palate – from private dining experiences at the exclusive Dining Privée to casual poolside snacks and epicurean evenings paired with fine wines and spirits.
As a luxury brand, the Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection promises the same unparalleled service key to the Ritz-Carlton brand, while the small size ship allows guests to reach destinations at secluded harbors, and frequent overnight stays in cosmopolitan cities.
Viking Ocean Cruises’ Viking Vela
Amongst the new cruise ships coming in 2024, the Viking Vela is set to break the mold of what we have come to expect from Viking Ocean Cruises, as its slightly larger size will now carry up to 998 passengers, dedicating extra space to 17 new cabins, all of them with views to the ocean.
Viking’s award-winning formula is to be expected as usual, with a wide variety of staterooms to choose from. At 1,488 square feet, the Owner’s Suite includes an expansive veranda, a private library, wine and music collections curated by Chairman Torstein Hagen, an ocean-view dry sauna, and complimentary shore excursions with private car and driver at the port city of your choice.
Guests already familiar with the Viking standard will be glad to know the Viking Vela provides the same restaurants and entertainment experiences one is accustomed to with the brand, ensuring continuity on the guest experience.
Sit at The Chef’s Table or Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant to enjoy some fine dining, relax at the indulgent Nordic Spa, and choose amongst the various shore excursions offers, which thanks to the Viking Vela’s small size are bound to be exciting, as the ship can reach corners of the world other larger vessels cannot.
Uniworld Cruises’ S.S. Victoria
As a sister ship to the S.S. Elizabeth, the S.S. Victoria joins Uniworld’s European fleet in 2024, featuring the largest suites on the rivers of Europe.
At 506 square feet each, the Two Royal Suites onboard provide ample space to relax, with French Balconies available to overlook at your destinations. All staterooms onboard feature open-air balconies, in-suite butler service, packing and unpacking assistance, in-room breakfast, and a fully stocked mini-bar amongst other exclusive amenities.
Guests sailing along the magnificent European rivers the S.S. Victoria will go through, are welcome to enjoy regionally inspired cuisine served in three different dining venues.
Walk amongst original artwork lining the walls, get to the spa area for a relaxing massage, and enjoy the unmatched all-inclusive luxury Uniworld has become known for, as the S.S. Victoria takes you along the Rhine and Moselle rivers.
Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess
Princess Cruises upcoming Sun Princess will be the first of the new Sphere Class Ships, and the largest of its fleet, with the added luxury of offering more balcony cabins than ever before.
Designed to connect passengers with the views outside the ship, the Sun Princess will set on her inaugural voyage through the Mediterranean on February 8, 2024. Features like The Dome, a glass-enclosed entertainment venue that offers a pool by day, and acrobatic performances by night, or The Piazza, presenting sweeping views from a sphere of glass, are meant to enchant guests with the sceneries around them.
Families onboard will have an especially great time with areas such as Park19, debuting the first roll glider at sea, an electric ride that goes up to 11 mph, along with a ropes course and many other areas of entertainment. While parents lay back at the Wheelhouse Bar or The Sanctuary, a luxurious spa-inspired top deck retreat, kids can have their fun at the exclusive areas reserved for them with games and themed events, such as the Firefly Park Kids Club or The Underground Teen Lounge.
Adding two new suite categories, the Signature Collection and the Reserve Collection, guests can also enjoy different perks such as a private restaurant, lounge and sun deck for the Signature Collection, and premium location Mini-Suites and Cabanas with exclusive access to a private restaurant and additional luxuries.
Staterooms with more living space and enhanced amenities ranging from priority embarkation and disembarkation to a complimentary mini-bar setup in the suite are to be expected, as the brand is making sure to offer guests a luxurious home onboard.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of The Seas – The biggest of them all
Amongst the top new cruise ships coming in 2024, the Icon of The Seas is already making waves, being not only the latest class from the line to debut but also the largest cruise ship ever to set sail.
Debuting January 2024, and with the capacity to transport up to 7,600 passengers, the Icon of The Seas boasts incredible amenities such as the new glass-covered AquaDome, featuring 600 panes of glass over a signature AquaTheater, a variety of restaurants, and Royal Caribbean’s first food hall, the AquaDome Market.
Being the largest ship at sea, it is bound to break other records, such as boasting the largest water park at sea, with six water slides, seven pools, and nine hot tubs onboard.
Guests onboard the Icon of The Seas will enjoy more than 40 dining and entertainment venues, all split across 20 different decks and neighborhoods.
Luxury cruisers traveling will love the ultra-elegant Empire Supper Club’s eight-course menu and lavish staterooms for both families and adults. Take a look at the extravagant Ultimate Family Townhouse Suite, fitting up to 8 guests, and its own private wrap-around balcony with a whirlpool, an extravagant in-suite slide, and Concierge service – or choose the Icon Loft Suite Stateroom, offering complimentary gratuities, the Royal Genie service, and an overall VIP experience onboard.
Excited about the new cruise ships coming in 2024? So are we! Make sure to contact your travel advisor soon to secure your spot in one of the best suites onboard these magnificent ships.
Mavi Parra is a journalist, content creator, and traveler with over 10 years of experience in various communications fields. Specializing in digital media and advertising, her work focuses on the relationships between travel, culture, and destinations. Currently, she is Luxury Cruise Connection’s content writer, developing engaging content to educate and promote luxury cruise travel.
